Mcduffie's Big Toe No Small Problem

DAVIE — Dolphins trainer Kevin O'Neill said he's never seen anything such as the "complex toe injury" that has slowed receiver O.J. McDuffie.

Consequently, the Dolphins placed McDuffie on the Active-Physically Unable to Perform list Friday.

That means McDuffie, a projected starter along with Tony Martin, won't practice until he and the team determine he's completely recovered from the left toe injury he sustained midway through last season.

"When he says he's ready to go, he'll go," Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said. "It could be two days, it could be two weeks. All he's got to do is say he's fine and we'll pass him [on his physical], and he'll play."

McDuffie, who was at training camp with the rest of the Dolphins veterans Friday, declined comment on his injury, opting instead to meet with reporters today.

He did post a statement on his Web site, www.ojmcduffie81.com, that said, in part, "I don't feel that I am that far away, but this thing has been such a pain that I want to get it right.

"Being on Active/PUP takes a little pressure off me, to be honest with you. This whole time I have been striving to be ready for training camp.

"I mean, if you know anything about me, I don't miss camp. I'm here to work, and that's why my goal to return to practice was [Friday]. But I'm not stupid, and I know what my body is telling me."

McDuffie injured the big toe on his left foot in the Nov. 21 home game against New England. He ended up missing four games and playing injured in four games.

In describing the injury, O'Neill said to put your left knee on the floor, with all five toes touching the ground and the sole of your foot forming a 90-degree angle with the ground. Put your left hand on your left heel, and push down hard.

As you feel the tension build around and underneath your left toe, imagine a 250-pound man on your heel instead of your hand.

"I haven't seen anything similar to this is my experience," said O'Neill, who has more than 20 years as a college and pro trainer.

O'Neill said McDuffie's visit to a doctor on July 11 showed the soft tissue is healing, but the rest of the toe area hasn't.

Receiver Nate Jacquet, who had bone spurs removed from the big toe on his right foot in February, said he's still only about 70 percent recovered, and that although a toe injury might not sound bad, it can be very bad.

"This injury is not a joke," he said. "People think it's a big toe and laugh it off, but once they go out there and feel how it feels ... "

Dolphins receivers said they could see that McDuffie wasn't his usual self on the field or at practices.

"He was down," Lamar Thomas said. "And he's down now because he wants to be out there."

Said Martin: "He was playing in a lot of pain."

And knowing how much McDuffie was suffering last year, a couple of receivers said they understand the decision to put McDuffie on the Active/PUP list.